Creating a Windows 7 Image using AIK

Hey All
I am currently in a process of trying to create an image in my company that I can deploy on identical machines (Toshiba R830). I have currently re-installed one laptop from manufacturer’s partition, but I would like to now create an identical image
(WIM file) that I can deploy easily to other identical laptops in case user’s get a virus or whatever the case may be.
In short I wanted to find out if it’s possible to copy all the partitions that the manufacturer has created on the machine into an image, since I do not want to deviate from manufacturer’s process and still want to have their particular set-up replicated
when I re-image machines.
I have tried to go through the re-imaging process but there is so many tools, ways and things to do before you can create an image that I am just lost in the sea of information provided.
I just want to have an image on the network identical to the current set-up on the host laptop. I have downloaded AIK for windows 7 and have tried to create bootable USB stick without much success.
My current set-up is:
Windows 7 Professional x64: (Running off the manufacturers Microsoft Windows activation key) According to Microsoft you cannot run an 'answer file' on a single OS license, you need to have a corporate license agreement in place with Microsoft.
I do not have access to Windows OS media as my image was restored from a manufacturer's rescue partition (Out of box Experience) and then I modified the set-up via SysPrep 'System Audit' mode to how I want an image to look like. According to Microsoft
you are required to have either an ISO or an OS disk to use an 'answer file' for automated deployment.
There are 3 partitions on the machine and I would like to take all 3 of them to the new image (not sure if this is possible).
Furthermore, do I have to set-up every new laptop HD partitions to conform with exact layout partition parameters as an initial image file using the WinPE media (as suggested by Microsoft) or is there an easier way of doing this, short of creating 'answer
file' which I cant't do due to above reasons?
I am struggling with creating windows PE bootable USB stick, any help on this would be much appreciated.
How can I create unattended installation without use of windows 7 media, corporate license key, etc. As this will be getting deployed to many users I need this to be unattended.
The tutorials I watched on-line seem to be awfully complicated for creating and deploying simple image that is supposed to save you time not be longer than installing from Windows OS disk.
Any help would be appreciated.
Regards
Slav

Hey Arnav,
Thank you for your prompt response. Yes, I did go through this but specified method requires a DVD media for Windows 7 (Which we are not using, we are using a manufacturer's restore partition), and an answer file does not automate without Windows corporate
license key according to Microsoft (which we dont have, we are using the manufacturer's keys assigned per device basis).
Additionally, we have 3 partitions on the host image machine (put there by Manufacturer) which we would like to translate to our final image, and there doesn't appear to be any instructions on how to package these partitions into a WIM file for future image
deployments.
Many thanks,
Regards
Slav

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I forgot to mention one point about copying shape layers into one shape layer: when you initially use the Shape Selection tool to select a shape for cutting, make sure the option for the Shape Selection tool is set to "Add to Selection".
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The problem with Elements+ is that it has so many features you soon forget what it can give you !
Truer words were never spoken!
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